There are a few primary reasons Google could be putting its
Android Silver project on hold. As Efrati reports, the
July departure of Google's chief architect Nikesh
Arora likely played a role in delaying the program.
Arora oversaw Google's partnerships with device manufacturers and
wireless carriers, a role that would be crucial to get a program
like Android Silver up and running.

Another possible reason could be that the reactions from Google's
partners and people within the company have been mixed so far,
according to Efrati. Phone manufacturers, carriers, and retailers
would need to pay concessions to Google in order to fund the
marketing necessary to fuel Android Silver sales. However, Efrati
writes that there "were serious doubts in various parts of Google
as to whether the program would work."

While Android Silver remains in limbo, Efrati says Google is
focusing more of its efforts toward
Android One: a program that helps phone manufacturers create
cheap high quality handsets for emerging markets. Android One
just saw its official launch in India on Monday.

News sources such as The Information and
Android Police have been reporting on Android Silver for
months, but we have yet to hear any official word from Google.
According to these reports, Android Silver would be a new means
of selling high-end Android devices. Google would set up special
kiosks in brick-and-mortar carrier stores and offer
around-the-clock customer service for those who buy phones under
the Silver umbrella.

The devices would come with a
stock version of Android, but the hardware would be built by
Google's handset partners. Based on these reports, it sounds like
it could be part of an effort for Google to reclaim the Android
platform from Samsung, its longtime partner and now one of its
biggest rivals in the smartphone space.